Friday, August 8, 2008

What is dance all about?

If you ask five people what dancing is about, you will probably get five different answers. However, I will tell you the real answer: dancing is about connection. Connection to the music, to your partner, and within yourself.

When you dance, what are you thinking about? The steps, how to wiggle your hips? You should be thinking about relating to your partner and to the music. Yes, steps are important, but they are only part of the connection.

I watch dancers who are technically pretty good, but they have no connection to each other or the music. They are just going through the motions. Or, they are so busy trying to do cuban motion, they are ignoring each other (I mentioned this in an earlier post). Their arms aren't connected to what their bodies or legs are doing. None of it is expressing the music, although they might be on the music.

When you see the top professionals dancing, they put together all the pieces. The team is working together as one, every part of both bodies are working together, telling the same story--the story the music is telling. Although their technique is very, very good (and, truly, that technique is a foundation that helps the rest of it), but what gives them the extra edge is all the other stuff.

Dancing is connection.